Laundry-distributing apparatus



Sept. 18, 1928.

y T. L. LowE LAUNDRY DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Waal/1 fm' L. Lame ATTORNEYS BVN @NN QNN um N sept. 18, 1928.

T. L. LOWE LAUNDRY DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR T/zo//z is ..Zfa we mwN NWN mv .NAN

ATTORN EYS Sept. 18, 1928.

T. L. LOWE LAUNDRY DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR Tk omas ,Llowe L )MATTORN EYS .VNN NNN.

Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNlTEl) STTES PATENT OFFICE..

THOMAS L. LOWE, OF DEVON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LC'XVE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATON OF CONNECTICUT.

LAUNDRY-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 12. 1926. Serial No. 0,752.

The present invention relates to automatic di Vribiitinfr and t'eeding laundry apparatus, particularly tor use in connection with a (lat work ironer. and has for an object to provide silrli :ipiiaratus adapted tribe eniiloved in such relation to the ironing niailiiiie as to greatly add to its etiiciency and cailmcity.

The method hereto tore employed for feeding articles of laundry to an ironer consisted ini manu-,illy placing the articles upon the moving apron ot the, ironer, several operators being usually employed tor this purpose. and who stand in tront ot the machines as it is continuously operating and place the articles in tlat relation iipon the moving apron. This method, however, required that the operator work with great rapidity in order to get as many articles as possible iii place upon the moving apron, and ifirecl'uded very close or precise placement ot the pieces. with the result that they were very otten wrinkled or vfolded as they moved into the iroiier, and much ot the ironing space was not utilized. inasmuch as the articles could not be placed to the best advantage in the time, allowed. lt was therefore impossible to opi-irate the ironer continuously and with full efficiency. v

According to the present invention it is proposed to provide a distributing and feeding apparatus in which the laundry pieces niav tlrst be ted selectively by hand at a speed independent ot' that ot the ironer. and thereupon automatically ted to the ironer in synrlironisni therewith in a uniform and etticient manner. and at such vtull speed ettieiencv as would be impossible with the previoiisrmetliod ot teeding directly to the ironer le: hind.

i 'li propof-ed one adaptation et the invention to provide a series ot machines arranged in cooperative relation with a coniiiion conveyor extending to the ironer, certain machines adapted to hive laundry pieces .ted into them by the operators and stored preparatory to automatic feeding to the iroiier. while other machines previously loaded are being operated to auton'iatically 'i'eed to the ironer. Thus the ir-oiier may be eontiiiaoiislv operated when desired at its tiill speed efficiency.

lt is iiirtlier proposed to provide such machines in direct lino with each other. and which may be selectively operated to feed laundry to a conveyor moving beneath all of such machines, so that the machines need not be .moved into or out of relation with the ironer. hat will remain stationary, and through the common conveyor will he operatively related to the ironer.

lllitli the above and other objects in view, an enihodiiiient et' the invention is shown in the .accompanying drawings, and this einpodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be linally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation ot one end of a aiiiidry distributing and feeding machine, according to the present embodiment of the invention, and with the parts in position for auton'iatic Yfeeding to the ironer,

Fig. 2 is :in elevation of the other end of the inachiin;

Fig. El is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. l is an elevational view showing a series ot' the machines in relation to the comnion conveyor tor carrying laundry to the ii'oncr, one ot the machines being shown in position tor automatically t'eeding to the ironer. and the other machine being shown in position for having laundry fed thereto by the ol'ie-rator preparatory to being ted to the ironcr, and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the ironer conveyor mounting at one end of the series ot machines.

Similar retercncc characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several tigiires ot the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the machine according to the present embodiment ot the invention comprises vertical side frames l() oi substantially rectangular shape and provided centrally with vcrtiral slidcways ll in which apron roll supiliorting slides 12 are engaged for vertical sliding movement. and whcli are provided at their corners with antifriction wheels 1? engaging the side flanges ot the slideways. lliitliin the slides l2 there are joiirnaled the sliatt ends ll ot the lower apron roll l5, the apron 1G being sccui'ed aty one end to this roll and extending therefrom first over an idler roll 17, joiirnaled at its ends in the side trame 10. at one side thereot ana slightly above the common ironer conveyor. hereinafter more fully described. The apron is then carried upwardly and over a feed roller 18 and from this roller in upwardly inclined relation over a feed roller 19, from which latter roller it extends to the upper apron roller Q0, the shaft ends 21 of which are journaled in roller-ed trucks 22 slidably supported upon upwardly inclined tracls secured at their lower ends to bracket portions 24- of the frames and at their upper ends to upwardly inclined eXtension arms Q5 formed integrally upon the rearward upper corners of the frames. The apron 16 is adapted to be wound from one roller upon the other: being wound from the lower roller to the upper roller during the operation of manual feedingV of laundry to the machine, and during which operation the upper roller rests upon the feed roller 19 and is rotated thereby, while the lower roller is raised with respect to the irouer conveyor. ln the operation of automatically feeding to the ironer conveyor, the apron is wound from the upper roller to the lower roller, carrying` the laundry stored upon the apron about the upper roller to the ironer conveyorr` the lower roller being in contact with the ironer conveyor to be rotated thereby, while the upper roller is raised with respect to the fer-d roller 19.

As previously pointed out the series of machines are arranged in line with each other above the common conveyor extendingr to the ironer, and at the forward side of each machine there is provided in spaced relation above such conveyor a platform 26 upon which the operator may stand during the operation of feedinO laundry to the machine. T he ironer Q7 is shown at one end of the series of machines.

The ironer conveyor apron consists of a series of endless tapes 28 extending: at one end about a small roller Q9, disposed above the upper roller 30 carrying the feeding apron 31 of the ironer, and in downwardly inclined relation from the roller 29 about a roller 32 journaled in the side frames of the first machine, the upper traverse of the apron Q8 being held in engagement with the upper side nof the roller 32 by means of an endless apron 33 extending about a roller 34 having its shaft ends 35 journaled in vertical. slots 36 in the side frames 10 directly above the roller and over a small roller 3T journaled above the roller 2f). This apron 3S is adapted to move with the conveyor Q8 be tween the rollers and 29 to retain the laundry pieces in flat relation upon the conveyor until they pass over the roller 29 and into the ironer. The conveyor extends from the roller 32 in horizontal relation beneath the several machines to a roller 38 disposed beyond the last machine of the series and mounted for horizontal compensating;l adjustment movement in a bracket 39.

In passing through the several machines the conveyor engages above and below spaced horizontal rollers 40 and 4.1 jeurnaled in the lower portions of the frame 10 of each of the machines, and which rollers are positively driven, as will presently more fully appear, for the purpose of drivingr the conveyor.

ln the last machine of the series there is provided a tension roller over which the lower traverse of the convey r passes and which roller insures a p sitive engagement of the conveyor with the feed rollers 40 and 4:1. As before pointed out` the lower apron roller 15 of the machine is adapted to be lowered into engagement with the conveyor duringr the automatic feeding` to the ironer, the saine being shown in this position in the left hand machine. Fig. Al, and in which posi tion the said roller rests upon the rollers 40 and 41 depressing' the convevor beween these rollers. The conveyor pa. es in flatwise relation over the rollers in the raised position of the lower apron roller, as indicate(L in the right hand machine, during the manual operation of feeding clothes into the machine.

For the purpose of taking' up slack in the conveyor when the same is moved into flat position after having been depressed by the lower apron roller, and thereby maintaining a positive engagement with the feed rollers 40 and Llil., the roller 38 is adapted to yield in a horizontal direction, an outward pull beine` maintained thereon to take up any slacli in the conveyor by means of a drum 43 supported .in a suitable bracket 44 and to which one end of a cable 45 is secured, said able passing beneath a roller 47S and over a roller 47 and being provided at its other end with a weight 48 which tends to turn the drum in counter-cloclrwise direftion. The shaft 49 of the drum is provided with a gear 50 meshingr with a raelc 51 mounted for hori- Zontal sliding movement and to the end of which the adjustable roller 3S is rotatabl` secured; thus rotation of the drum 43 through the action of the weight 48 will impart an outward movouunt to the roller 38. while an inward pull by the co veyor upon the roller 38 will lift the weight.

The rollers Il() and Al-l are adapted to be driven directly from the ironer in synchronisin therewith and for this purpose a gear driven bv the iioner, connected by a sproclct chain with a rear 54 mounted in a suitable bearing bracket and havingr a spir f' p al gear u secured upon its shaft which meshes with a spiral gear 5i' secured upon one end of a shaft 58 extending` horizontally in relation to the several mafhines, said shaft beine provided within each of the machines with spiral gears and which mesh with spiral ,gears (it) and 6l carried upon the shafts of the roller 4() and 4-1.

ln order to maintain the laundry upon the apron during the automatic feed ing; of

Lit

the Work to the ironer conveyor as said apron traverses between the guide rollers 18 and 17, an endless apron 62 is extended between an upper roller ($3 and a lower roller 64. said upper roller having its shaft ends 65 slidably engaged in inclined slots (3G in the side frames so that said roller frictionally bears against the roller 18 and is driven thereby. The aprons between said rollers 1S and 17 are tensioned by means of a roller 67 engaged at the inner side of the apron (r2 and having its shaft ends GS slidably supported in horizontal slots (it) in the sidey frames, and in which slots said shaft is adapted to be adjusted to regulate the tension on said aprons.

At the forward side of the machine, and disposed above the traverse of the apron 10 extending between the rollers 18 and 19, there is provided an adjustable loading and feeding apron extended at its outer end about a relatively large diameter roller 7l having its shaft ends 72 journaled in the side frames 1() and extended at its inner end about a relatively smal] roller 7? disposed directly above the roller 151. said rollers 72 and 73 being connected together by tapered side plates 74, pivotally mounted at their outer ends upon the shaft 72, and rotatably supporting the roller 73 at their inner ends. rl"he apron 70 is preferably in the form of a plurality of parallel tapes and adjacent and above the roller 73 is engaged by a gravity friction roller 75, having its shaft ends 70 engaged for vertical movement in vertically slotted ears 77 formed upon the side plate 74 and serving to retain the laundry pieces in flatwise relation upon the apron 70 as the same are engaged and fed by the apron 1G into relation about the upper roller 20. The apron 70 is tensioned by means of a roller 78 supported at its ends by lever arms 79 pivotally mounted at 80 upon the side plate 74, said roller having its shaft ends 81 engaged in slotted portions S2 of the side plates whereby the weight of the roller bears downw^.rdly upon the lower traverse of the apron. The driving mechanism for the apron 1G and the apron 70. and which will be presently more fully described, is such that the apron 70 is operated at a slightly slower speed than the apron 1G. providing a retarding tension upon the laundry pieces as they are fed from the apron 70 to the apron 16, which in cooperation with the friction weight roller 75 provides a retarding tension upon the laundry pieces, causing them to stretch slightly as they are fed upon the apron 1G and which insures their disposition in the apron being rolled about the upper roller in a smooth flat relation.

The several machines are adapted to be driven from a single source and for this purpose an electric motor 83 is provided, which through a flexible coupling S4 drives a horizontal shaft 85 extending to the several machines at one side, and provided in relation to each of said machines with a worm drive 80 disposed within a supporting housing 87. and meshing with a worm gear 8S, provided upon its shaft 89 with a sprocket gear connected by a sprocket chain 01 to a sprocket gear'fl'l mounted upon the shaft 72, and adapted to be connected by means of a sliding clutch 9?) to a sprocket gear 94 also mounted upon said shaft 7;). The clutch 93 adapted to be shifted by means of a `bell-crank lever 05, having a forked upper end 00 engaging the clutch and connected at its lower end by a link 0T to a 'toot lever 0S pivotally mounted upon the side frame at 00, this lever being in such relation with respect to the platform 2o, that the operattn' standing thereon may engptgc and disengage thc clutch at will, so that as the foot lever is depressed the machine will operate. and will stop when the lever is raised, it being understood that the machine will be operated in this intermittent manner to permit the operators to selectively arrange the laundry pieces upon the apron 70, aml thereupon cause them to he fed to the apron 16.

The sprocket gear SH is connected by a sprocket chain to a sprocket gear 101 mounted upon the shaft 102 of the apron roller 1). and adapted to be connected to said shaft by means o1 a clutch 10?) disposed upon the shaft r102 at one side of the machine, and adapted to be operated from the other side of the machine by means of an elongated pullod 101 extending through guide brackets 105 and 106 supported upon the side frames, and connected at its end to a hand lever 107 pivotally supported at 10b upon the bracket. 10o. The projecting end of the shaft 10; is journaled in the hearing bracket 10i). and at the inner side of said bracket there is secured upon said shaft a sprocket gear 110 connected by a sprocket chain 111 to a sprocket gear 112 secured upon the shaft 11? of the roller 18, and through which said roller 1S is adapted to be driven in synchronism with the roller 19.

As the roller 71 is of slightly smaller diameter than the roller l) the speed of travel of the feeding apron 70 is slightly less than that of the apron 1G, the sprocket wheels 9-1 and 101 being ot' equal diameter. During the normal loading operation ot' the machine. the clutch 10?, is connected and the wlmle machine intermittently controlled b) operation of the clutch 0?) through the foot iever 9S. During the feeding operation to the ironer both clutches 93 and 103 are disc-.nmected, the clutch 10?, disconnecting the rolls 16 and 10 from the gearing, so that they are free to rotate.

During the loading operation the apron 70 and its supportingframe are adapted to ltr() be moved into substantial engaging relation with the roller 19, as shown in full lines in the right hand machine, F ig. 4, while in the feeding operation to the ironer it is adapted to be raised with respect to said roller as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in the left hand machine, Fig. 4. For the purpose ot cllecting this raising and lowering movement, a hand lever 114 is secured at one end to a rock-shaft 115 extending transversely across the machine and rotatably supported its ends in standards 105 mounted upon the upper side olf the side frames 10, and adjacent each oi said standards, lever arms 11T are provided upon the shaft. 115. these arins rotatably supporting between their inwardlyv projecting ends a transverse bar 11d. and beine( pivotally connected at their outwardly projecting ends 119 by links 12'.) io the side 'trames 'T4 ot the apron TO. The lever arm 114 is adapted to be moved between two pordtions ol' adjustment, and to be fixed at such positions by means o1' a detent 121 adapted to engage notches 122 and 123 in an arcuate guide support 124 mounted upon the side traine 1t) at one side of the machine. lily mowing the lever arm 114` between its :wo positions it will be seen that the apron is moved into and out otl relation with thtI roller 19.

Upon the bar 118 there are secured a series oiE supporting arms 125, eonneeted at their inner inojecting ends to a doffer or scraper bar 126 extending transversely across the machine, and adapted during the feeding operation to the ironer to engage the surface Aof the apron 16 rolled upon the upper roller 2O for the purpose of insuring the removal of the laundry pieces therefrom and also adapted, as will presently more fully appear. to operate a automatic switch mechanism for adjusting the position of the roller 2t) during such feeding operation. .it each end ot the bar 118 there are secured up vardly extending arms 12T connected by springs 12S to suitable eyelets 120 secured upon the upper ends ot the standards 116, and adapted to press the (loller plate yieldably into engagement with the apron 16 as shown in Fig'. l.

lnringl' the feed ing operation to the ironcr the apron 1G is rolled from the upper roller upon the lower roller 15, and at. the benning ol' such operation the. upper roller is moved to its uppermost position upon the tracks 23 in spared relation to the roller 19, while the lower roller is lowered into friclional engagement with the rollers 40 and 4l ot' the ironer conveyor 28. 1n order to raise the roller 20 to such position, its supporting trucks 22 are respectively connected at their upper ends to cables 130. extending over guide rollers 131. 131 rotatably7 supported in the upper ends of the bracket portions 25, and connected at their ends to a winding shaft 182 supported at its ends in suitable brackets 133, and provided at one end with a hand wheel 134 by means of which said shaft may be first turned to take up theI slack Vin the cable caused during the loading operation as the apron rolled about. the upper roller 2() has been increased in diameter, and t'urther turned to raise said roller into spaced relation to the roller 19 through further winding of the cable on said shaft. he shaft 132 is thereupon alapted to be secured in such position by means ot a clutch 135 which upon being shi itc-:l connects it to a worm gear 13G, meshing with a worm 13T mounted in a suitable bearing housing 1518, and adapted to be driven through a coupling 139 by an electric motor 140 supported upon a bracket 141 sccured to the side frame 10 at one side. This motor is normally inoperative and the meshing relation o1` the worm 137 with the gear lil is such as to lock the latter, so that when the clutch 135 is engaged the cable winding shaftt 132 held against rotation. The clutch 135 adapted to be shifted by means ot a forked lever 142 connected by a pull rod 143 to a hand lever 144 disposed in accessible relation adjacent the hand wheel 1254.

As the machine is operated to feed the laundry pieces to the ironer conveyor the upper roll and apron gradually decreases in diameter and the lower roll and apron increases in diameter and in order to maintain a substantially constant spaced relation be ineen the surface of the apron upon thc upper roller and the roller 19 and to maintain substantially the same relation to the dotfer bar 126 so that the laundry pieces may be disturbed as little as possible should they stick to the upper roll and have to be removed therel'rom by the doffer bar, the upper roller is adapted as it decreases in diameter to a predetermined extent to be lowered sntliciently to compensate for this decrease tl'irough operation ot' the motor 140, which through the worm 13T and gear 136 reels ofi' the cable 13() and lowers the roller 2t) to such desired position. For the purpose of automatically controlling this action, a rod 145 is secured in depending relation upon the rod 118 and is disposed at its lower end between spaced stop lingers 141i and 147, provided upon a pull rod 145%. pivotally secure(L at one end to a svvitch lever 149, connected to a toggle switch 150 secured upon the arm 11T at one side, this switch being connected by suitable lead wires 151 to the lead end control switch 152 of the motor 140, said switch 132 being mounted upon the bracket 141.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the operation of the switch mechanism is as follows As the diameter of the rolled apron upon tit) the upper roller decreases in size, theI doit'er bar 12T follows Vits surface, through the action of the spring 12a. gradually rotatingr the bar 11S in clockwise direction, movingr the rod 1-l5 gradually into engagement with the stop 11G upon the rod 11S. and as this movement continues shitts the rod 14S to the right to a point where the switch lever 149 is thrown into circuit closing relation with a snap action. causing the motor 14() to be started up.y whereupon the trucks 2:2 are lowered upon the tracks Q3 through gravity. Dui-ingr this lowering movement. the dotfer bar 12T is swung downwardly. rotating the bar 11S in countera/Leltwise direction and causing the rod 145 to engage the stop 14T of the rod 14S, and at a proletermined point to throw the swit-rh in the opposite direction to open the circuit and thereby stop the operation ot the motor. This operation repeated at intervals throughout the feeding' of the laundry to the ironer and inaintains a substantially constant spaced relation at the point ot emergence of the laundry pieces from the upper roller.

Duringr the loadingy operation the upper roller is lowered into engagement with the roller 19 through disconnecting;Vv the clutch 135 and reeling oliA the cable 1232() through operation of the hand wheel 131. while the lower roller 15 is raised in spaced relation with respect to rthe ironer conveyor. For this purpose the supporting slides 12 are respectively connected at their upper ends to cables 155 wound about and connected at their upper ends to a winding shatt- 15G journaled at its ends in the upper portions otl the side frames 1t). and provided at one end with a hand wheel 15T adapted through rotation to wind the cable upon .said shaft to lift the lower roll to th:` dotted line position as shown in Fig. Q. the same bein;r held in such position by suitablel pawl and ratchet mechanism 15S.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment ot my invention, but it is obvious that changes Inay be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof. as detined in the appended claims.

Haviirer thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Iietters Patenty iszl. In a machine ot the cha raetrr described, an apron, a pair ot spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends ot' said apron whcreby the apron is adapted to be wound from one upon the other. drive means 'with which said rolls may have rictienal driving engagement. and means for moving said respective rollsl into spaced relation with said drive means whereby as one roll is rotated bv its drive means. the other roll may be tree ot its drive means.

2. In a machine of the, character described.

an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron whereby the apron is adapted to be wound from one upon the other. and to have laundry pieces placed thereon to be wound with said apron about, one otl said rolls when said apron is moved in one direction. and a conveyor positioned to receive said pieces during movement of said apron in the other direction.

3. In a machine ot the character described, an apron. a pair of spaced rolls respectively fixed to the ends of said apron, a driving roller over which said apron passes in moving from one of said rolls to the other, and means tor supporting;- one of said rolls in position to have frietional engagement by its weight with said driving roller to be rotated thereby.

4. In a machine of the character described, an apron. a pair ot' spaced rolls respectively fixed to the ends ot' said apron, a driving roller journalled in fixed position and over which said apron passes in moving from one ot' said rolls to the other. and means for supporting one of said rolls at one side and above said driving roller in position to have trictional engagement with said driving roller to be rotated thereby.

In a machine of the character described, an apron. a pair of spaced rolls respectively tixed to the ends of said apron, a drive roller over which said apron passes in moving from one of said rolls to the other, means for supporting: one of said rolls at one side and above said driving roller in position to have frictional engagement with said driving roller to be rotated thereby, said means comprisinzcfy a diagonally disposed support for said roll inclined downwardly toward said drive roller whereby thc weight of said roll and apron wound thereon engages it with said drive roller.

6. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair ot' spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, a drive roller over which said apron passes in moving` from one of said rolls to the other, means for supportingy one ot said rolls at one side and above said drivingr roll in position to have frictional engagement with said drivin;v roller to be rotated thereby, said means comprisinxgr a diagonally disposed support for said one roll inclined downwardly toward said drive rolier whereby the weight of said one roll and apron wound thereon engages it with said drive roller, means for liftingr said one roll upwardly upon said inclined support into spaced relation with said driving roller, and drive means for the other of said rolls tofrotatinjr the same in opposite direction to the direction of rotation of said one roll.

7. In a machine of the character described. an apron.y a pair ot' spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, said apron adapted to be wound from one of said rolls upon the other, a guide support for one of said rolls, a guide support for the other of said rolls, drive means disposed adjacent to said first support, a horizontal conveyor disposed adjacent to said second support, and means for moving said respective rolls into and out of driven relation with said drive means and said conveyor, whereby said apron is wound upon said first mentioned roll during; engagement of said roll with said drive means. and is wound on said last mentioned roll duringr engagement of said last mentioned roll Vi h said conveyor, whereby laundry may be wound with said apron upon said first roll or fed by said apron onto said conveyor.

8. In a machine of the character described, au apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, said apron adapted to be wound from one of said rolls upon the other, an inclined support for one of said rolls, a vertical support for the other of said rolls, drive means disposed adjacent to said inclined support, a horizontal conveyor disposed adjacent to said vertical support, means for movinp1 said respective rolls into afi-l out of driven relation with said drive means and said conveyor whereby said apron is wound upon said first mentioned roll during driving of said roll by said drive means, and is wound on said last mentioned roll duringr driving of said roll by said conveyor, whereby ,laundry may be wound with said apron upon said first roll or fed by said apron upon said conveyor.

9. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is wound from one upon the other, a secondary loadingr apron for delivery to said first apron, means for driving said secondary apron, and means for stopping and starting the movements of said aprons at will.

10. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is `wound from one upon the other, a secondary loading` apron for delivery to said first apron, means for driving said secondary apron, and means for stoppingii and startingY `the movements of said aprons at will imlependently of each other.

11. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pain of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is wound from one upon the other, a secondary loading apron for delivery to said first apron, means for driving Said secondary apron, means for stopping and starting the movement of said aprons at will, and means for moving said secondary apron into and out of cooperative relation with said first apron.

12. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is wound from one upon the other, a secondary loading apron for feeding to said first apron, means for drivingDr said secondary apron at a slower speed than the speed of movement of said first apron, and means for stopping and starting said aprons at will.

13. In a machine of the character described, an apron, pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotatilrgsaid rolls where-- by the apron is wound from one upon Athe other, a secondary loadingr apron for feeding laundry pieces to said first apron, means for drivin@a sair secondary apron at a slower speed than the speed of movement of said first apron, means for stopping and startingh the movements of said aprons at vill, and friction means engaging the surface of said secondary apron at its delivery end adapted to exert a pull on said laundry pieces as they are delivered to said first apron.

14. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, means for rotating said rolls whereby the apron is wound from one upon the other, a secondary loadingv apron for feeding lanndry pieces to said first apron, means for driving said secondary apron at a slower speed than the speed of movement of said first apron, means for stopping and starting the movements of said aprons at will, and a gravity friction roller engaging the surface of said secondary apron al, its dclivery end adapted to exert a pull on said laundry pieces they are delivered to said first apron.

15. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, a feed roller over which said apron passes in movingV from one roll to the other, means for moving;b one of said rolls and apron wound thereon into and ont of frictional engagement with said feed roller, a secondary loading' apron for feeding laundry pieces to said first apron, said roll and apron being engaged with said feed roller during delivery of laundry pieces from said secondary apron to ,grip the pieces between its convolutions and draw them from said secondary apron.

16. In a machine of the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends of said apron, a feed roller over which said apron lla passes in moving from one roll to thel other. means 'for moving; one of said rolls and apron thereon into and out of trictional engagement with said feed roller, a secondary loading apron for feeding! laundry pieces to said first apron. aid one roll and apr'ni being engaged with said feed roller dur delivery et laundry pieces from said secondary apron to cause the conwilntions ot said apron to grip the pieces and draw them iron: said secondary apron, and means ior exerting a retardin;r action on said laundry pieces as they are drawn from said secinidary apron whereby they are sn'ioothed and flatten ed.

17. In a machine scribed, an apron, a pair of spaced spectively connected to the ends et' said apron, a feed roller over which said apron passes in moving' from one roll to the other, means for moving one ot' said rolls and apron thereon into and ont ol l'rictionai engagement with said feed roller. a secondary loadinf apron for feeding laundry pieces to said hrst apron, said roll and apron heinev engaged with said feed roller during' delivery of laundry pieces from said .a'ecoin'lary apron to cause the convolntions ot sa 'd apron to grip the pieces and draw them l'rom said secondary apron, and means tor movin;Y said secondary apron at a slower speed than said lirst apron whereby a retardinggj act ion is exerted 0n said laundry pieces as theyv are drawn from said secondary apron.

of the character deroils re- 18.1n a machine ot the character described, an apron, a pair ot' spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends ot and a feed roller over which said apron passes in moving from one roll to the other, means for moving one ot said rolls with the apron thereon inh and ont ot' trictional en `a@ement with said teed roller. and means adapted while said roll and apron thereon is ont ot' contact with vsaid leed roller to move said roll towards said `feed roller as the apron is wound therefrom whereby a suhstantially constant spaced relation is maintained between the snrt'ace ot said apron. as its diameter on the roll decremes.r and the surface of said feed roller.

19.111 a n'iachine ot the character described, an apron, a pair of spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends ot said apron7 a feed roller over which said apron `passes in moving from one rolljo the other7 means 'for moving one ot' said rolls and apron wound thereon into and out ot' liriotvional engagement with said teid roller, means adapted to impart movement to said roll towards said feed roller, an electric motor for driving; said means, and switch mechanism cooperating with said apron on said roll whereby as said windingA decreases is operated to impart n'iovement to roll towards said feed roll i and Upon a predetermined mowmeat oi said roll towards said teed roller rid motor stopped.

20. lin a machine ot the character desa'ibt l, an agron. a pair ot spaced rolls respectively connected to the ends ot said eilen. a 'laced roller over wl'iich said apron in, -s in moving' trom one roll to the oth ir, means tor movi if); om ofA said rolls and apron wound thereon into and ont, ot frictonal eiicagenient with said feed roller. means adapted to inmail, n'iovement to said roll towards said Y roller; an electric motor tor driiing said means-r and switch mechanism coiiijierating with the surface 01 said apron as wound on said roll whereb` as said windim in diameter, through winding oi said a iron to a predetermined extent. iid motor is| operated to impart movemeni` to said roll tow'ards said driving roller. and niion z. inedeterinined movement ol' said roll towards said feed roller .said niotor stopped.

machine of the character del an einen, a pair ol spaced rolls rer'h; Nonne-ted to the ends et said a eed roller over which said apron noriifj ron'i one roll to thel other. movin;r one oiI said rolls' and :iron wound thereon into and out of liriconal engagement with said feed roller, i an.; tor imparting movement to said roll towards said toed roller, an electric motor 'for driving-r said means. switch mechanism 'tor starting and stoiipzng said motor, and a scraper har i'ieliliihly engaging the surface ot .said wound apron to remove laundry pieces therefrom and cooperatively conn acted to said switch mechanism. wherebyY :is said roll dccrmfes in diameter. throngh winding or' said apron to a predetermined extent, said motor is oper-:cited to impart movement io said roll towarix aid eedng' roller. and nunon a predetermined movement ol said roll towards said feeding roller said motor is shipped.

22. ln a scrihed, an respectively apron. a t'eed roller over machine of the character deapron, pair ot spaced rolls e-innected to the ends ot said which said apron passes in movin;f trom one roll to the oula-i means l'or moving one ot' said rolls and llt) titi

and said feed roller, whereby as said apron winding decreases in diameter through winding off of said apron to a predetermined extent, said motor is operated to impart movement to said roll towards said feeding roller, and upon a predetermined movement of said roll towards said feeding roller said motor is stopped.

ln combination, an ironer, a conveyor for feedino laundry pieces to said ironer in synchron i therewith, a plurality of loading and feeding devices, and means for selectivcly operating` each of said devices to receivey and ster-f laundry pieces arranged for ii'ifning or to fied such stored and ai'u ranged pieces to said conveyor whereby one of said devices may be feeding to said conveyor while another of `aid devices receiving and storing .laundry pieces.

2a. In combination, an ironer, a conveyor for feeding laundry pieces to said ironer in synchronism therewith. a laundry loading and feeding machine inciuding a. pai;l of spaced rolls, an apron n" incc'ed at 'Ls respectivc ends to said roll/1 ind adapted to be wound from one upon the other, drive means for one of said rolls adapted to be operatively connected therewith and disconnected therefrom for driving said apron in synchronisui with said conveyor to feed lanndry pieces from said apron to said conveyor, and means for rotating said other roll, when said one roll is disconnected from its drive means, in opposite direction to the direction of rotation imparted by said drive means.

2F. In combination, an ironer, a conveyor for feeding laundry pieces to said ironer, means for driving said conveyor in synchronism with said ironer, a laundry loading and feeding machine for feeding to said conveyor and includingl a pair of spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls to be wound from one upon the other, one of said rolls being disposed adjacent to said conveyor and n'lovabie into and out of operative connection with said drive means, said roll when in operating connection with said drive means being rotated thereby and feeding laundry pieces on said apron to said conveyor, and means for rotating said other roll when said first roll is out of operating connection with said drive means in the (nip-osito direction to the direction ol' rotation imparted by said drive means.

2t?. In combination, an ironer, a conveyor for feeding iaundry pieces to said ironcr in svnchronism therewith, a laundry loading and feeding machine disposed adjacent to said conveyor and including a pair of spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls and adapted to be wound from one upon the other, one of said rolls being disposed adjacent to said conveyor and movable into an out of engagement therewith, said roll during engagement with said conveyor being rotated thereby and acting to feed laundry pieces from said apron to said conveyor, and means for rotating said other roll when said first roll is out of engagement with said conveyor in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation imparted by said conveyor.

2i'. In combination, an ironer, an endless conveyor for feeding laundry pieces to said ironer, a pair of drive roliers frictionally engaged beneath the upper traverse of said conveyor for driving it in synchronism with said ironer, a laundry loading and feeding machine disposed adjacent to said conveyor and including a pair of spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls and adapted to be Wound from one upon the other, one of said rolls being disposed adjacent to said conveyor and movable into and outI of engagement therewith between said spaced drive rollers, said roli during such engagement with said conveyor being` rotated thereby in synchronism with the ironer to feed laundry pieces from said apron to said conveyor, and means for rotating said other roll when said first roll is out of engagement with said conveyor in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation imparted by said conveyor.

Lt. in eombinat'on, an ironer, an endless conveyor for feeding laundry pieces to said ironer, a pair of drive rollers frictionally engv ged beneath the upper traverse of said conveyor to drive it in synchronism with said ironer, a laundry loading and feeding machine disposed adjacent to said conveyor and including a pair of spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls and adapted to be wound from one upon the other, one of said rolls being disposed adjacent to said conveyor and movable into and out of engagement therewith between said spaced drive rollers, said roll during engagement with said conveyor being rotated by said drive rollers in synchronism with the ironer to feed laundry pieces from said apron to said conveyor, means for rotating said other roll when said first roll is out of engagement with said conveyor in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation imparted by said conveyor, and means exerting a yielding pull on said conveyor to permit it to yield upon engagement of said first roll thereon.

29. In combination, an ironer, a conveyor for feeding laundry pieces to said ironer, a plurality of loading and feeding machines disposed in feeding relation to said conveyor and each including a pair of spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls, said respective rolls being rotatable in opposite directions to wind said apron from one upon the other whereby clothes loaded thereon may be wound with said apron about one ot said rolls during movement in one direction, and during movement in the other direetion may be fed to said conveyor.

Bti. ln conibinaiion. an ironer.y a conveyor for Yfeeding' laundry pieces to said ironer. a plurality ot loa-dingV and feedingI machines disposed in feeding relation to said conveyor and )ach including a pair of :spaced rolls, an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls. said resl'iective rolls` being rotatable in opposite directions to Wind said apron from one upon the other whereby clothes loaded thereon may be Wound about' one ot' .said rolls daring movement in one direction and may be 'ted to said conveyor dnrirnrl` movement in the opposite direction, a common drive means` tor said nlarhines7 for driving` them in loadinrlr direction, and clutch means 'tor individually and selectiveiy connectingi` said machines` to ad conn mon drive means.

Il ln combination. an ironer. a conveyor for feeding' laundry pieces to said ironer. a plurality ot loading` and feeding' machines disposed above said conveyol in spaced relation to each other, a conveyor dii means havingr taigzigeiiieiit with s ro ad jacent to e rh machine anel raid conveyor in synchronism with the ironer` each of said machines inclndiin a pair ot' spaced rolls. an apron connected at its respective ends to said rolls and adapted to be Wound from one upon the other, one ot' said rollsy being' disposed adiacent to said conveyor and movable into and out ot engagement- \vith said conveyor at one otl said conveyor drive means, said roll dnri -1' enl ijagl'ement with said conveyor being rotated movement thereby in synchronism with means for rotating` said other by the ironer, and

roll when said tirst roll is ont of engagement with said conveyor in opposite direction to the direction of rotation imparted by said conveyor.

32.111 combination. an ironer` a conveyor tor feeding' laundry pieces to said ironer, a plura;` v oll loadingv and feeding machines disposed in feeding relzfion to said con` veyor and each i hidingl a pair ot' spaced rolls. an 'fron Windward at its respective wat t to t. l respect've rol being rotatable 'n oppone directions to wind said apron troni one upon the other whereby clothes may be load-cd thereon and wound o' .said roth: daring` tion and may be 'l'ed 'ing movement in the and means lor rotating i' vel; in one or the other dimi in comiA ironer. a coni'cyor tor tec( laundry pieces to said ironer. a piuraiitv et loading; and feedingr machines disposed, in feeding; relation to s; d conveyor and each includingi a pair of spaced roils. an apron connected at its respective er to said rolls. said respective roth: being rotatable in opposite directions to wind :aid apron from one npon the ther whereby clotlresy loaded thereon may be wound therevi'ith about one of said rolls when movingn in one direction and may he ted to said conv'eyor when movingV in the opposite direction. means for rotating said rolis seieztivcly in either direction and means for operatively disconnecting said rotating means from said rolls.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairtield and State of Connecticut, this 5th day of January. A. D. 1926.

THOMAS L. LOWE. 

